Muñoz Strike Sends Colombia to World Cup Round of 32

Daniel Muñoz scored a late winner as Colombia secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over DR Congo at the Guadalajara Stadium, booking their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stages.

The South Americans dominated possession but struggled to breach a resolute Congolese defense. Left-winger Luis Díaz thought he had opened the scoring twice, but VAR controversially disallowed both goals—one for a tight offside call and the other for a foul in the buildup. Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi delivered a stellar performance, pulling off multiple acrobatic saves to keep his side in the match.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 76th minute. Muñoz found space on the right wing and unleashed a powerful strike that deflected into the net, marking his second goal of the tournament. DR Congo pushed forward in the closing minutes but failed to test Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

With two consecutive wins, Colombia tops Group K with six points and officially advances to the Round of 32. They will face Portugal next to decide the group winner. Meanwhile, DR Congo remains on one point and faces a must-win clash against Uzbekistan to keep their World Cup dreams alive.